U.S. patent application number 13/310942 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-07 for color print module for a franking machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES. Invention is credited to Romain PILLARD.
Application Number | 20120137906 13/310942 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43638952 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120137906 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PILLARD; Romain |
June 7, 2012 |
COLOR PRINT MODULE FOR A FRANKING MACHINE
Abstract
A color printing method for a franking system making it possible
to print a franking mark on a mailpiece using at least three
primary inks, namely cyan, magenta, and yellow, wherein at least
one of said primary inks, namely cyan or magenta, is constituted by
a similar postal ink, namely postal blue for cyan and/or postal red
for magenta.
Inventors: |
PILLARD; Romain;
(CHARTRETTES, FR) |
Assignee: |
NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
BAGNEUX
FR
|
Family ID: |
43638952 |
Appl. No.: |
13/310942 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
101/186 ;
101/211 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07B 17/00508 20130101;
G07B 2017/00532 20130101; G07B 2017/00653 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
101/186 ;
101/211 |
International
Class: |
B41F 3/44 20060101
B41F003/44; B41M 1/14 20060101 B41M001/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 6, 2010 |
EP |
10306357.4 |
Claims
1. A color printing method for a franking system making it possible
to print a franking mark on a mailpiece using at least three
primary inks, namely cyan, magenta, and yellow, wherein at least
one of said primary inks, namely cyan or magenta, is constituted by
a similar postal ink, namely postal blue for cyan and/or postal red
for magenta.
2. A color printing method according to claim 1, wherein said
franking system includes a print module fed from three or four ink
reservoirs, each of which contains an ink of a different color in
order to perform three-color or four-color printing using a CMY
model or a CMYK model, and wherein, in order to print said franking
mark using a postal ink, the cyan ink reservoir is replaced with a
reservoir of postal blue postal ink and/or the magenta ink
reservoir is replaced with a reservoir of 185U red or fluorescent
red postal ink.
3. A color printing method according to claim 2, wherein said print
module is fed from three ink reservoirs, each of which contains an
ink of a different color in order to perform three-color printing
using a CMY model, and wherein the cyan ink reservoir is replaced
with a reservoir of postal blue postal ink or the magenta ink
reservoir is replaced with a reservoir of 185U red or fluorescent
red postal ink.
4. A color printing method according to claim 2, wherein said print
module is fed from three ink reservoirs, each of which contains an
ink of a different color in order to perform three-color printing
using a CMY.model, and wherein the cyan ink reservoir is replaced
with a reservoir of postal blue postal ink and the magenta ink
reservoir is replaced with a reservoir of 185U red or fluorescent
red postal ink.
5. A color printing method according to claim 2, wherein said print
module is fed from four ink reservoirs, each of which contains an
ink of a different color in order to perform four-color printing
using a CMYK model, and wherein the cyan ink reservoir is replaced
with a reservoir of postal blue postal ink or the magenta ink
reservoir is replaced with a reservoir of 185U red or fluorescent
red postal ink.
6. A color printing method according to claim 2, wherein said print
module is fed from four ink reservoirs, each of which contains an
ink of a different color in order to perform four-color printing
using a CMYK model, and wherein the cyan ink reservoir is replaced
with a reservoir of postal blue postal ink and the magenta ink
reservoir is replaced with a reservoir of 185U red or fluorescent
red postal ink.
7. A color printing method according to claim 5, wherein said
franking mark is printed with a combination of postal ink and of
black ink in order to increase its contrast.
8. A color printing method according to claim 2, wherein said
franking mark is printed with a combination of postal ink and of at
least one of the remaining inks in order to obtain, once printed,
the color components required by postal specifications.
9. A color printing method according to claim 2, wherein, with said
mailpiece also including graphical elements or elements identifying
the sender or third parties, which elements are associated with
said franking mark, said elements are printed using a single ink
other than the ink that enabled said franking mark to be
printed.
10. A color printing method according to claim 2, wherein, with
said mailpiece also including graphical elements or elements
identifying the sender or third parties, which elements are
associated with said franking mark, said elements are printed in a
color obtained from at least two inks.
11. A print module fed from at least three ink reservoirs, each of
which contains an ink of a different color, including at least one
postal ink, said print module being suitable for implementing the
color printing method according to claim 1.
12. A franking machine including a print module according to claim
11.
13. An envelope printer including a print module according to claim
11.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of mail-handling,
and in particular to the field of franking machines or "postage
meters", or of other envelope printers, each of which includes an
inkjet digital print module.
PRIOR ART
[0002] Nowadays, inkjet printing is in very widespread use for
printing photographs, and office documents, but, over the last ten
years or so, it has also been used in the postal field for printing
franking or "postage" marks. For such postal use, printing is then
monochrome only, and of a specific color or "postal color" that
varies depending on the country of franking (fluorescent red for
the USA and Canada, 185U red in Great Britain, and postal blue for
Germany and France, for example), and printing is then both of the
franking mark proper and of any logos, adverts, images, or messages
that might accompany it.
[0003] If the sender then wishes the graphical elements other than
the franking mark not to be printed in the same color as the postal
ink, but more conventionally with black ink, it is necessary to
provide the franking machine with an additional print head fed from
a black ink reservoir in addition to the print head fed with the
postal color ink, as illustrated, for example by Patent U.S. Pat.
No. 6,079,327.
[0004] However, certain senders/users wish such logos, adverts,
images, or messages to be printed not only in monochrome manner but
also in color so as to attract the attention of the recipient or
merely so as to convey the image of their company. In order to
satisfy this need, the franking machine must thus be capable of
accommodating both of those printing constraints (postal printing
and color printing).
[0005] Conventionally, the printing methods implemented in a color
printer use the primary inks cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y),
to which black (K) is added in order to reinforce the contrast of
the colors. In an inkjet printer, those colors are added together
to create other colors present in the gamut. By acting on the
combination of these four primary inks and on their percentages, it
is possible to obtain all of the colors printable within a certain
color gamut volume. Certain higher-performance printers used for
high-quality photographic printing use up to eight different
primary inks (cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow,
light yellow, mat black, and glossy black). This makes it possible
to extend the gamut and to print colors that cannot be obtained
with only four primary inks.
[0006] Unfortunately, franking marks must comply with postal
specifications such as those defined, for example, in Universal
Postal Union (UPU) Standard S44, in particular in terms of contrast
and of modulation for reading bar codes and, in practice, it is
very difficult to obtain satisfactory franking marks beyond a
certain printing speed that is typically 1 meter per second (m/s)
with a combination of inks. The positioning errors in the ink
droplets coming from different heads perturb reading bar codes,
even when such errors are hardly discernable with the naked eye.
This also applies with three-color or four-color integrated print
heads having rows of nozzles, each of which corresponds to one of
the primary inks, such as those used in office inkjet printers.
[0007] In addition, even with such an extended gamut of colors, it
is not possible to obtain the fluorescent red necessary for
printing franking marks in the USA or in Canada. That is why the
Applicant has, in Application U.S. 2006/023023, proposed a
structure having a plurality of print heads making it possible to
print postal franking in color at high printing speeds, and in
which structure the postal ink necessary for printing the franking
mark is associated with the conventional three or four primary inks
necessary for performing the desired color printing for the other
graphical elements.
[0008] That solution was taken up by Pitney Bowes who, less than a
year ago, put on the market a franking machine (Connect+.TM. 3000
model) that is capable not only of printing the franking mark in
its specific postal color but also of associating therewith logos,
advertising, images, and messages printed in four colors. To that
end, that franking machine is provided with two print modules, one
conventionally making it possible to print the franking mark in one
color, and the other making it possible to print the other printed
graphical elements in four colors.
[0009] The solution solves the problem posed, in particular as
regards printing speed. Unfortunately, it is very costly due to
adding the color print module in addition to the standard postal
print module, and that addition also increases the overall length
of the machine in which the module is incorporated and
significantly alters its architecture.
OBJECT AND DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An object of the present invention is therefore to propose a
printing method for a color franking machine that is of cost
comparable to the cost of a monochrome machine (i.e. a machine that
only prints with one ink that is of postal color), without
significantly reducing the printing speed. Another object of the
invention is to propose a print module that can be mounted in
franking machines having current architectures, without requiring
significant alteration to its software configuration.
[0011] Another object of the invention is to propose a franking
machine that uses the same set of primary inks and that can thus be
used both in countries that require red postal ink and in countries
that require blue postal ink.
[0012] These objects are achieved by a color printing method for a
franking system making it possible to print a franking mark on a
mailpiece using at least three primary inks, namely cyan, magenta,
and yellow, wherein at least one of said primary inks, namely cyan
or magenta, is constituted by a similar postal ink, namely postal
blue for cyan and/or postal red for magenta. More particularly, in
this method, said franking system includes a print module fed from
three or four ink reservoirs, each of which contains an ink of a
different color in order to perform three-color or four-color
printing using a CMY model or a CMYK model, and in order to print
said franking mark using a postal ink, the cyan ink reservoir is
replaced with a reservoir of postal blue postal ink and/or the
magenta ink reservoir is replaced with a reservoir of 185U red or
fluorescent red postal ink.
[0013] Thus, it is possible, while preserving the original
architecture of the franking machine, to print the franking mark
and the graphical elements accompanying it using the same print
module and without adversely affecting its printing speed.
[0014] In order to increase its contrast, said franking mark may be
printed with a combination of postal ink and of black ink. In order
to obtain, once printed, the color components required by postal
specifications, said franking mark may be printed with a
combination of postal ink and of at least one of the remaining
inks.
[0015] Depending on the implementation, with said mailpiece also
including graphical elements or elements identifying the sender or
third parties, which elements are associated with said franking
mark, said elements may be printed using a single ink other than
the ink that enabled said franking mark to be printed, or in a
color obtained from at least two inks.
[0016] The invention further provides a franking machine or an
envelope printer including a print module fed from at least three
ink reservoirs, each of which contains an ink of a different color,
including at least one postal ink, said print module being suitable
for implementing the above-mentioned color printing method based on
postal ink.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Other characteristics and advantages of the present
invention appear more clearly from the following description given
by way of non-limiting indication, and with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of an inkjet
franking machine with its print module of the invention; and
[0019] FIGS. 2 and 3 show different color gamuts obtained
respectively with different inks or with different types of
paper.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATION
[0020] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of an inkjet
franking machine 10 with its print head 12 overlying a guide plate
14 on which mailpieces 18 are conveyed in a longitudinal movement
direction D and are jogged against a referencing wall 16. Said
mailpieces are conveyed, as is known, by rollers (only the
counter-rollers 20A, 20B are shown, which counter-rollers are
disposed above the guide plate 14 immediately upstream and
immediately downstream from the print head 12, and define between
them a minimum printing length for printing the mailpieces) or by
conveyor belts of the franking machine, in such a manner as to pass
under the print head, thereby making it possible to print a postal
imprint 18A on each of said mailpieces. Naturally, as in any
franking machine, control circuits (not shown) are provided in its
base so as to operate it and in particular so as to rotate the
conveyor rollers depending on the positions of the mailpieces as
they go through the machine as sensed by various sensors (not
shown).
[0021] The print head 12 has four ink reservoirs 12C, 12M, 12Y,
12K, each of which is associated with means for ejecting the ink
(conventionally one or two rows of inkjet nozzles) and is
controlled by a set of electronic circuits conventionally
comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller 22, a memory 24 and
a driver circuit 26. The driver circuit controls the ink ejection
nozzles of the print head under the control of the microprocessor
and using a control program stored in the memory. The driver
circuit may be incorporated in or separate from the print head,
while the microprocessor and its memory are advantageously
incorporated into the base of the franking machine to which the
print head is connected, and of which they can constitute some of
the control circuits.
[0022] In accordance with the invention, the ink of the reservoir
12C and the ink of the reservoir 12M that, for four-color printing
using the CMYK model, respectively comprising a cyan ink and a
magenta ink, are replaced with specific postal inks, namely postal
blue instead of the cyan, and postal red, 185U red, or fluorescent
red (depending on the country of installation of the machine)
instead of the magenta. Thus, the width of the print module is not
increased by the presence of a second head, and the printing speed,
at least when only the franking mark is printed, is not reduced,
said franking mark (and in particular its two-dimensional (2D) bar
code) being printed with postal ink from the single row of nozzles
associated with the reservoir filled with that ink, as in the prior
art.
[0023] In addition, the use of such a standard four-color print
head makes it possible to preserve a space of 125 mm that currently
exists between the conveyor rollers flanking the print head in
current print modules of franking machines, enabling
postcard-format mailpieces to be printed, and thus avoiding any
structural alteration of said modules. Using an additional module,
as proposed in the prior art mentioned in the introduction, or
merely using a single additional ink gives rise to a significant
increase in the costs and in the overall size of the machine.
[0024] As regards the other graphical elements 18B, in particular
for graphical elements identifying the sender (logos, advertising,
and images, for example) or third-parties (messages making appeals
for donations, for example) associated with the franking mark 18A,
surprisingly the inventor has observed that replacing the two
primary inks with the specific postal inks makes it possible to
obtain rendering that is quite acceptable for the desired use,
namely printing of mailpieces. This result is obtained without any
color balancing. The following table compares the CIE LAB
components of the colors obtained using illuminant D50, on
flat-tint areas produced with primary inks of the cyan, magenta,
yellow, and black (CMYK) model, and with the postal blue and
fluorescent red postal inks.
TABLE-US-00001 component Color L a* b* Cyan 60 -26 -44 Postal blue
60 -16 -41 Magenta 56 61 -1 Fluorescent red 64 51 18
[0025] Although acceptable results are obtained without color
balancing, the color control program stored in the memory 24 may be
adapted to take account of the replacement of the primary inks, as
shown in the example of FIG. 2 in which a first set of primary inks
has been replaced with a second set of inks of similar colors.
[0026] The term "similar color" is used to mean a color having the
same color base. Thus, cyan, which is also called "light blue" or
"sky blue", is similar to postal blue, which has the same blue
base, and magenta, which is also called "fuchsia red" or "purplish
red", is similar to fluorescent red or to 185U red, both of which
have the same red base.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows the color gamut obtained with the primary inks
of the first set (in uninterrupted lines) and the color gamut
obtained with the primary inks of the second set (in dashed lines),
both gamuts being projected on the a*b* plane in the CIE LAB color
space, which is a uniform color space representing all of the
colors perceived by the standard human eye. It can be noted that
the two curves are not superposed on each other, which indicates
that certain colors that are printable with the first set cannot be
printed with the second set.
[0028] In addition, without any color balancing, a color printed
with the same proportions of primary inks is perceived differently
with the first set or with the second set.
[0029] In order to obtain a reproduction of the colors that is
close to the first set in the printable gamut, various methods can
be applied. These well-known methods are not described in detail,
and only their principle is recalled. Thus, the adjustment of the
color profile consists in altering the proportions of primary inks
of each color in order to obtain equivalent rendering. The clipping
method consists in bringing the non-printable colors to the
boundary of the curve corresponding to the second set. The
compression method makes it possible to distribute the distortion
caused by the differences in ink throughout the entire gamut,
compression being used to compensate for major distortions while
also complying with the perception of the differences in color.
[0030] It should be noted that the printing speed can vary
depending on the quality that is expected for the graphical
elements or identification elements to be printed. Thus, if only
the postal ink is used, the speed does not differ at all from the
speed of a conventional print module having postal ink only. The
same applies if, in addition to the postal ink, the elements that
are printed in addition to the franking mark require only the
independent use (use without mixing) of one or more of the other
three inks of the head (logo in yellow and message in black, for
example), printing of the three colors (yellow, black, and postal
blue, for example) then taking place at the same speed.
[0031] When an element to be printed requires the combination of at
least two inks (e.g. logo in orange requiring the combination of
red and of yellow), the printing speed may be kept constant if the
quality that is obtained is sufficient, or reduced to obtain a
better printing quality, and in particular better contrast. It
should be noted that it is also possible to combine the postal ink
and the black ink in order to increase the contrast of the bar
codes included in the franking mark. This can be desirable on
certain envelopes made of paper that is particularly porous. It is
then possible to choose a high-speed printing mode or a
reduced-speed printing mode as a function of the desired
results.
[0032] In general, it is possible to combine the postal ink with
one or more of the other primary inks so as to compensate for the
defects related to the paper of the envelopes, in particular in
order to obtain the color components required by postal
specifications. As shown in FIG. 3, which shows the color gamuts
obtained with the same set of primary inks on three different types
of paper, as a function of the type of paper, the saturated colors
can rapidly find themselves outside the capacities of the system.
For improved rendering, adapted compensation for each type of paper
is thus desirable by using various known compensation methods,
including the above-mentioned methods.
[0033] It should also be noted that, although reference is made
above to a print head in which the cyan and magenta inks are
replaced with similar postal inks, naturally it is also possible
for only one of those two inks to be replaced with a similar postal
ink, the cyan being replaced with the postal blue or the magenta
being replaced with the postal red, whether that postal red be
fluorescent red or 185U red (this applies in particular when the
machine is to be installed on a single type of market).
[0034] Finally, it should be noted that, although the above
description refers to a four-color printing method and to
four-color print modules for franking machines, the same principle
of replacing a primary ink with a similar postal ink may apply to a
three-color printing method and to three-color print modules using
the CMY model, or indeed to print modules for envelope printers
including, for example, more than four primary inks, as a function
of the cost and of the overall size of the desired franking
system.
* * * * *